In keeping with the deluxe edition of the band’s debut album ‘Ten’ a couple of years ago, Epic/Legacy commemorate the band’s 2oth Anniversary by issuing expanded versions of the band’s second and third albums, Vs. and Vitalogy, respectively. March 28th sees each album given the remastering treatment, and the track listings break down as follows:
Definitive Legacy Editions of each album, each including the full original albums, with additional relevant era bonus tracks, will be made available on CD and digital:
The Definitive Legacy Edition of Vs. has three bonus tracks – a previously unreleased acoustic version of ‘Hold On’; an otherwise unavailable studio outtake, ‘Cready Stomp’, and Pearl Jam’s unique version of Victoria Williams’ ‘Crazy Mary’.
The Definitive Legacy Edition of Vitalogy also tacks on three bonus cuts: a guitar/organ only mix of ‘Betterman’; a previously unreleased alternate take of ‘Corduroy’ from the album sessions, and a demo of ‘Nothingman’, recorded in Seattle on October14th 1993, featuring Richard Stuverud on drums.
A special Deluxe Edition will be issued as 3CDs or digital download bundle equivalent:
The Deluxe Edition CD version will contain the Legacy Editions of both albums; ’Live At The Orpheum, Boston, April 12th 1994. Alongside the bonus tracks for each album, this will be of special interest to Pearl Jam collectors, as the show came at the tail end of the Vs. tour, and the set list was put together by the band’s road crew. Long sought after by the diehards, this is a dream show by any serious fan’s standards. The full set list is:
Oceans; Even Flow; Sonic Reducer; State Of Love And Trust; Hard To Imagine; Immortality (Hey Hey My My); Go; Animal; Glorified G; Daughter (Suck You Dry); Alone; Not For You; Betterman; Rats; Blood; Release; Tremor Christ; Once; Fuckin’ Up; Dirty Frank; Yellow Ledbetter; Jam; Rearviewmirror; Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town; I’ve Got A Feeling.
The crème de la crème of this series of reissues is the Collector’s Boxed Set:
This contains 5 LPs, 4 CDs, 1 cassette (!), digital downloads, composition notebook and a memorabilia filled envelope. Vs. and Vitalogy will be packaged together in a limited edition collector’s boxed set that includes 59 unique Pearl Jam performances. Whilst the Deluxe and Legacy editions will be available at traditional and online retailers, the boxed set is exclusively available from pearljam.com.
Contents for the boxed set breaks down as follows: Definitive Legacy editions of both albums on CD; remastered vinyl editions of both albums (Vs. is a single album, Vitalogy is a two record set); double vinyl LP and CD of Live At The Orpheum; a digital download of the Orpheum show; a cassette featuring live and studio tributes from Pearl Jam’s fellow artist friends. This is culled from the band’s famous Monkeywrench / Self-Pollution radio broadcast, originally aired on January 8th 1995; an 80 page composition book crammed with photos and artwork by Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament; a glassine envelope containing era-relevant memorabilia, and stunning lithographs of each band member, and postcards and posters.
So, to the music! Ten had been a massive success for the band, who had risen from the ashes of the now-legendary Seattle rockers Mother Love Bone. When MLB vocalist Andrew Wood tragically died in 1990, MLB stalwarts Stone Gossard (guitarist) and Jeff Ament (bassist) brought in Mike McCready on lead guitar, and recorded a demo with help from Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron. The demo found its way to a 25 year old surfer from San Diego called Eddie Vedder, who overdubbed vocals, adding his own original set of lyrics. In true fairytale style, he was asked to join the band, and enlisted alongside drummer Dave Krusen. The band recorded Ten, which was released in the summer of 1991. Following the release, Krusen left to be replaced by Dave Abbruzzese.
Following Nirvana’s astonishing mainstream breakthrough in 1991, radio opened up to edgy outsider rock and roll, and Pearl Jam deservedly rode this wave, eventually outselling Nirvana, and scoring massive hits with three singles from their debut: Jeremy, Even Flow and Alive. 1992 was their year, with their music filling the airwaves and college dorms, and quickly spreading round the world.
When Pearl Jam delivered their hotly anticipated sophomore release Vs. in 1993, their refusal to kow tow to fans’ expectations raised eyebrows but set the tone for a career that has always valued integrity above the demands of merely playing the game. The album omitted the title from the packaging and artwork, and no singles or videos accompanied the release in their homeland. Vedder’s lyrical thrust grew on this album, and his words melded to the band’s power and majesty created a flawed masterpiece, certainly over the years it has established itself as a fans favourite.
The follow up arrived at the end of 1994, initially only charting just inside the top 60 in the U.S., due to it being released on vinyl two weeks ahead of the dominant CD and cassette formats. Eventually, a full release saw the album claim the American number one spot. Vitalogy is a record that deals with inner conflict and outward battles. The group had fought Ticketmaster prior to its release, claiming the concert powerhouse was using unfair business practices, and the bitter tussle informs the record. Dark and experimental are words oft used in rock music, usually to cover a lack of melody or ability, but in the case of Pearl Jam’s marvellous third album, these adjectives serve to illustrate the mood of a brooding, claustrophobic record which is all the more beguiling because of its dark heart.
Limited edition vinyl versions of both Vs. and Vitalogy will be made available through the independent record retailing sector on April 111th , just in time for Record store Day, which takes place worldwide on Saturday April 16th.
